Spotlight

AMSilk animal-free protein-based textile fibre

AMSilk started producing Biosteel Fiber in 2015: a pioneering protein based fibre development that combined high performance properties with sustainability. Today AMSilk produce a range of fibres, from Biosteel to Ultrafine. It is made with biotechnology and is petroleum free. It is completely biodegradable in marine and aerobic conditions, leaving no plastic residue. It is converted into fabric using standard textile manufacturing equipment, turning man-made proteins into fibres for commercial textiles – footwear and garments, bags and wristbands, home textiles and even composites in automobiles. Image AMSilk.

Spotlight

Simplifyber cellulose-based moulded shoe uppers

Simplifyber produce moulded shoe uppers from a cellulose-based pulp. It is poured into a mould as a liquid and formed into the final shape with heat and pressure, reducing cutting and sewing. The material is made from a mix of wood pulp and other plants and biodegradable additives. It works somewhat similarly to making paper, but the resulting material is strong and durable. The strength comes from an additive derived from food waste, which creates cross-links in the bioplastic structure. It is recyclable with paper. Image Simplifyber.

Spotlight

Woolchemy wool-based fabrics for hygiene applications

Woolchemy produce technical wool-based fabrics that offer an alternative to synthetic textiles in hygiene and wellbeing applications. NeweFlex is a biodegradable acquisition distribution layer (ADL) for disposable hygiene solutions, including diapers (nappies), incontinence and feminine hygiene products. NeweZorb is an ultra-absorbent, breathable textile that can absorb over 10 times more moisture than its original weight while still feeling dry and comfortable. Image Woolchemy.

Spotlight

MarinaTex home compostable packaging film

MarinaTex is a versatile material that is being developed as an alternative to plastic for a variety of applications. It is not yet in commercial production. Made from a combination of agar from red algae and fish processing waste, among other ingredients, it does not contain any harmful chemistry that could damage the environment. From bags to single-use packaging, the transparent film is well suited for packaging and will biodegrade in soil. Image MarinaTex.

Spotlight

CanvaLoop bio-based textiles from agricultural waste

CanvaLoop fibres for fashion and textiles are produced using agricultural waste from crops such as hemp, banana and pineapple production. The fibres are extracted and processed to make HempLoop (stalks from hemp grown for food and medicine), BanLoop (fibres from the plant stalk), PineLoop (fibres from discarded leaves), NettleLoop (wild Himalayan nettle) and FlaxLoop. Image CanvaLoop.

Spotlight

Arda New Grain leather alternative from plant based ingredients

Arda Biomaterials created New Grain, a new type of leather alternative that is currently in development, made from brewers’ spent grain (BSG). According to Arda Biomaterials, for every 100 ltr of beer, there are 20 kg of spent grain. The protein and fibre in the waste grain is processed into materials suitable for textiles that can be processed using similar techniques to leather. Image Arda Biomaterials.

Spotlight

Oceanium seaweed materials

Oceanium develops functional seaweed ingredients for applications in health and wellbeing, skincare, packaging materials, food and beverages. As an example, they developed Ocean Ink, which is a fully biodegradable water-based ink derived from sustainably sourced seaweed. It has a naturally golden colour, which lends itself to high end and luxury packaging, offering an alternative to foil embossing (hot foiling, foil blocking). Image Oceanium.

Spotlight

Searo seaweed packaging materials

Searo Labs has developed a unique formulation of seaweed-based materials that are food contact safe, home compostable, moisture and texture controllable, optically clear, and heat sealable. Potential applications range from film packaging for fresh food to dissolvable shampoo and detergent pods, and feminine care products. Image Searo Labs.

Spotlight

Uncaged Innovations bio-based leather alternative

Uncaged Innovations are developing a leather alternative that is bio-based, animal-free and doesn’t require tanning like traditional leather. The process fuses structural proteins from grains with other bio-based elements to create fibril networks, replacing the animal collagen required for traditional leather. The company claims that the end product emits 95% less greenhouse gasses, 93% less water, and 72% less energy than traditional animal leather. Image Uncaged Innovations.

Spotlight

Flaxwood linoleum by Dzek

Linoleum tiles by Dzek in collaboration with designer Christien Meindertsma. It is a bio-based product that promotes a healthy indoor environment made with solidified linseed oil (from flax) and pine resin, filled with additives such as limestone, cork dust and wood flour. Image Dzek.

Spotlight

Ecor bio-based and recycled panels

Ecor convert agricultural and post-consumer waste (paper and card) into building materials, providing an alternative to engineered wood panels. Raw materials are processed into usable feedstock via a mechanical pulping process to achieve the desired properties for the pulp. The pulp is then dispersed in water and through controlled processing the lignin acts as a natural glue, like hardboard, binding the fibres together. Image Ecor.

Spotlight

Keim mineral paint

Keim mineral silicate paints are made with non-toxic natural ingredients and mineral pigments. Applied to masonry, the paint forms a permanent chemical bond between the pigment and substrate, creating a long lasting and colourfast coating that is breathable, noncombustible and water resistant. The surface is inherently resistant to fungi, algae and mould growth resulting in a hygienic and beautiful finish. Image Keim.

Spotlight

Brewed Protein textiles and materials from Spiber

Brewed Protein by Spiber includes fibres, films, and other types of protein-based materials that are manufactured through fermentation (brewing) of plant-based ingredients. Sugars obtained from agricultural products such as sugarcane and corn provide the main feedstock. The finished materials are bio-based, non-toxic and biodegradable in soil and marine environments. Applications include textiles, fashion, garments, faux fur, films and packaging. Image Spiber.

Spotlight

Galy lab-grown cotton

Even though still in the lab, Galy promise their lab-grown Literally Cotton will be less susceptible to weather and environmental influences, in stable quantities and at stable prices. Instead of harvesting plants, the cells are grown in bioreactor in a process similar to beer brewing. Galy claim their cotton grows ten times faster than conventional cotton, in a process that uses 77% less water, 80% less land and emits 84% less CO2 than traditional cotton manufacturing. Image Galy.

Spotlight

BioPuff plant-based textile fill

BioPuff by Ponda (formerly Saltyco) is a plant-based material that uses bulrush (also known as reed mace). It has a similar structure to feathers and down, providing warm, lightweight and water-resistant natural insulation. It is derived from marshes using paludiculture, an ancient practice of farming on wetlands, such as rewetted peatlands, bogs and fens. About 20 bulrush heads are needed to make enough material for one jacket, and the first rushes are expected to be harvested from the UK site in 2026.

Spotlight

Natural Dye Collection by Ficus Innovations using Agraloop Biofibre

Ficus Innovations partnered with Circular Systems to produce a coloured natural textile fibre with the lowest environmental impact possible. Using only plant waste and extracts from pomegranate peel, olive leaf, lavender, and walnut shell, among others, and bio-resins, plant-based oils, and clay to achieve high colour fastness. No metal mordants, aluminium salts, formaldehyde, and azo dyes are used. Image Circular Systems.

Spotlight

Magna Glaskeramik panels from recycled glass

Magna Glaskeramik panels are made with recycled glass – specifically industrial waste from the production of packaging and solar panels. The sheet materials, which are suitable for furniture and facades, for example, have a maximum dimension of 2800 x 1250 mm (up to 3500 x 1500 mm on request) and a standard thickness of 20 mm (15-40 mm available on request). Image Magna.

Spotlight

Organic Cotton Colours

Organic Cotton Colours produce organic cotton textile and garments without dye – the colour comes from cotton varieties that naturally grow in cream, green, and brown shades. Using regenerative farming practices, the company controls the supply chain from the field to the finished textile and garment. This ensures the absence of chemicals and guarantees a biodegradable product that is good for people and the planet. Image Organic Cotton Colours.

Spotlight

Xampla Morro plant based polymers

Xampla Morro plant based polymers are natural proteins converted into compostable packaging materials, such as coatings and films. The proteins are derived from agricultural waste, from what is leftover once starch has been extracted from peas. They have developed water-soluble films, which can be used for in edible packaging like stock cubes. They also offer dispersion coatings for paper, totally plastic free and home compostable, that can be tailored to offer grease resistance, water resistance, or both. Image Xampla.

Spotlight

Sway seaweed packaging

Sway seaweed packaging. Cast as transparent films, they offer a renewable and compostable alternative to packaging plastics such as polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyester. Their products include TPSea melt-processable pellets for film extrusion, TPSea Flex which mixes seaweed with bioplastic for bags and wrappers, and prefabricated bags using TPSea Flex. Image Sway.

Spotlight

Reishi fine mycelium fabric

Reishi fine mycelium fabric by MycoWorks provides an alternative to animal leather and plastic-based textiles made using polyurethane (PU) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). This luxury mycelium leather that looks and feels like fine animal leather but with much lower environmental impact. Image MycoWorks.

Spotlight

Marmoleum linoleum by Forbo

Marmoleum linoleum by Forbo is a floor covering made with solidified linseed oil (from flax) and pine resin, reinforced with jute fibre, and filled with additives such as limestone, cork dust and wood flour. Marmoleum is made with renewable energy and materials for a sustainable and non-toxic product.

Spotlight

Malai coconut leather

Malai coconut leather is produced through bacterial fermentation of waste coconut water, a byproduct of coconut production. The bacterial cellulose that develops is enriched with natural fibres (banana, sisal, hemp), gums and resins to create a durable and flexible material which is converted into flat sheet or 3D parts. It is coloured with plant-based mordant-free dyes. Plant extracts like indigo, madder, cutch or marigold petals are used in order to achieve the colour. It is plastic-free, vegan and home compostable. Image Malai.

Spotlight

Lactips milk protein film

Lactips is a promising technology development based on 100% bio-sourced casein-based plastic-like material that is biodegradable in water and home compostable. Derived from milk protein, it is not classed as a plastic, and is being developed as a plastic-free packaging film and coating solution for paper or cardboard packaging with a view to strengthening the protection and conservation of food products without impacting their recycling or compostability. Image BASF.

Spotlight

IsoHemp hemp blocks

IsoHemp hemp blocks (also called hemplime and hempcrete) are particularly suitable for the construction of residential houses, for lining existing walls from the inside or outside, as well as for industrial and flat partitioning. It offers high thermal insulation, breathability and very low carbon footprint. Image IsoHemp.

Spotlight

Gmund Bio Cycle

Gmund Bio Cycle paper is made with a mix of wood fibre and up to 50% recycled plant fibre, such as wheat straw, grass, cotton and hemp. It is compostable and recyclable end of life. Distributed by G.F Smith. Image Gmund.

Spotlight

Compostella wax paper

Compostella wax paper is a greaseproof packaging paper produced with a thin coating of carnauba wax. It is suitable for use with moist foods such as smoked fish, cooked ham and goat’s cheese, as well as sausage, cheese and vegetables. It is unbleached, home compostable and provides a sustainable alternative to paraffin wax-coated or plastic-laminated paper. Image Compostella.

Spotlight

Boliden recycled copper

Copper mining and smelting have a significant carbon footprint. The global average, according to the International Copper Association (ICA), is 2.3 kgCOe/kg. Boliden low-carbon copper, produced with renewable energy and recycled contents (up to 100%), has a reduced carbon footprint of 1.5 kgCO2e/kg. The primary raw material for Boliden’s recycled copper is used electronics. Image Boliden.

Spotlight

Accoya acetylated wood

Accoya wood is modified radiate pine. Through a process of acetylation, the chemical structure of the wood is altered, resulting in a dimensionally stable and extremely durable timber guaranteed for 50 years above ground and 25 years in ground or freshwater. The process does not add any toxins to the environment. Image Accoya.